# Accident 19970516015659A: Cessna 172N, Madison, WI, May 16, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 1997, 12:55 local time
- Place: Madison, WI
- Airport: Dane Co Regional-Truax Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1399° N, 89.3375° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DANE COUNTY RGNL/TRUAX FLD (MSN), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1399&lon=-89.3375&mi=10
- Aircraft: N738LM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738LM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2J
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 378 total, 200 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970516015659A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 18 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE REPORTED THAT WHEN HE CHECKED THE ATIS PRIOR TO LANDING THE WINDS WERE BEING REPORTED AS 200 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS.  THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DURING THE LANDING AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO RECOVER.  THE AIRPLANE WAS BLOWN TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT TOUCHED DOWN AGAIN.  THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL TO THE LEFT.  IT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND TRAVELED THROUGH THE GRASS EVENTUALLY CONTACTING THE VASI LIGHTS.  A LOCAL OBSERVATION TAKEN 20 MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT REPORTED WINDS FROM 200 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS.                                                         (-23) ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18 AT MSN PILOT EXPERIENCED SLIGHT CROSS WIND AND LNADED IN GRASS TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING THE VASI LIGHT STRUCTURE.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE HORIZONTAL STABULIZER, ELEVATORS AND VERTICAL STABULIZER.  THE FUSELAGE FROM THE REAR SEAT BACK SHOWED WRINKLED SKIN AND DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE BENEATH.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI97LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA141), May 16, 1997: Cessna 172N (N738LM), Madison, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty, crosswind conditions and…

## Other reports on N738LM (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19951112036439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951112036439A), Nov 12, 1995: Cessna 172N (N738LM), Niles, MI, Substantial damage. Lost power approaching airport. Nosed over in snow covered cornfield. Fuel was depleted. Not IFR rated. (-23) on November 12, 1995, at 1532 EST, Cessna model…
- [Incident 19920520024289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920520024289I), May 20, 1992: Cessna 172N (N738LM), Madison, WI, Minor damage. Pilot made a hard landing. Bounced and landed on nose wheel.
- [Incident 19780704042039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780704042039I), Jul 4, 1978: Cessna 172N (N738LM), St Louis, MO. Pilot departed with inoperative radio, then unable to find destination. When nearly out of fuel found an airport.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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